ACT strata bodies unite behind commissioner but warn funding falls short The Strata Community Association (SCA) and the Owners Corporation Network (OCN) have presented a united front in calling for a properly resourced strata commissioner to support Canberra’s growing population of strata-titled property owners. Read the article here
OCN''s Queensland Director, Chris Irons explained the Tribunal's decision over a second pesky fridge on an owner's balcony Listen to the interview here
OCN''s Victorian Director, Dr Janette Corcoran calls for the City of Melbourne to consider the realities faced by the thousands of existing strata buildings that are already home for the majority of the city’s residents. If you live in a high-rise, now is the time to speak up. The more the council hears that residential strata – and how this operates – matter, the more likely we are to see real [...]
OCN's David Glover speaks to Maggie Raworth about the growing trend of developers installing embedded networks in new apartment buildings. They are routinely left with lengthy, expensive contracts that are difficult to negotiate or terminate. Worse, the apartment owners may not even own the infrastructure or benefit from energy produced. But they're required to maintain and repair it. https://youtu.be/UwKnlxEttTY
Apartment owners in Sydney’s south are voicing outrage after discovering they’re being billed for electricity generated by solar panels on their own building’s roof. Ron Wilson speaks to Karen Stiles about embedded network traps for the unwary purchaser (or renter). Listen to interview:> https://omny.fm/shows/ronwilson/karen-stiles-solar-energy-agreements-07-05-25 Related interview of embedded network consultant:> https://omny.fm/shows/ronwilson/joseph-arena-arena-energy-consultings-principal-managing-director-08-05-25
Angry apartment owners say they’re being charged for electricity generated by solar panels on their own roof thanks to a confidential agreement signed between their developer and the energy provider. When they moved into the new Dwell building in Sutherland, in Sydney’s south, they assumed the solar would help with their common property electricity bills. Instead, they’ve just been presented with a surprise bill for $28,717.06 for the past 12 months, [...]
5 FEBRUARY 2024 OCN made a submission to the federal regulator of embedded networks, calling for strict controls on developer-initiated embedded networks that only profit the developer, and cause harm to owners and residents. Read submission:> OCN Submission - AER Review of Exemptions Framework for Embedded Networks 240205
OCN made a submission on the protections needed for strata owners and tenants where developers install an embedded network. Read submission:>OCN Submission - IPART Draft Report on Embedded Networks January 2024 Related content:> https://ocn.org.au/inquiry-into-embedded-networks-in-nsw/
29 NOVEMBER 2023OCN was proud to sign onto the Consumer Policy Research Centre joint consumer submission on unfair trade practices - Make Unfair Illegal. There are a range of practices that cause consumer harm, and are detrimental to the competitive process, that are not currently unlawful. In the strata world these include embedded networks and obfuscation around insurance premiums. It's time to level the playing field! Read full submission:> https://cprc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Submission-Unfair-trade-practices-Treasury-November-2023.pdf Related content:> https://ocn.org.au/inquiry-into-embedded-networks-in-nsw-ocn-testimony/ Related content:> [...]
25 AUGUST 2023 Major updates to NSW strata are being proposed, with working groups having recommended some bold regulatory reforms for the sector. Among the changes afoot is a recommendation to make the initial annual general meeting of new buildings a two stage process so that owners, especially first timers, cannot be railroaded into agreements that are not in their best interests, such as embedded networks [https://www.afr.com/wealth/personalfinance/howtostop-dodgymaintenancecontractsinyournewapartmentblock-20230801-p5dt3d]. Allied to the recommendation above [...]
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